Economy in Brief: June 2018

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions rose to 25.0 during June, the highest level in eight months. Expectations had been for 18.0 in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. These data, reported by the [...]

The Federal Reserve reported that industrial production eased 0.1% (+3.5% y/y) during May following a 0.9% April rise, revised from 0.7%. A 0.2% increase had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. Factory sector [...]

The EMU trade balance shrank in April, stepping back to a surplus of €18.1bln from €19.8 bln in March. One year ago the surplus stood at €20.4 bln. Exports nudged higher in April rising by 0.3% while imports surged by 1.4%. That [...]

The Empire State Manufacturing Index of General Business Conditions rose to 25.0 during June, the highest level in eight months. Expectations had been for 18.0 in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. These data, reported by the [...]

Import prices increased 0.6% during May (4.3% year-on-year), the second consecutive monthly growth of that magnitude; April’s gain was revised higher. A 0.4% rise had been expected in the Action Economics Forecast Survey. These [...]

Total business inventories increased 0.3% (4.4% y/y) during April following a 0.1% March slip. Total business sales rose 0.4% (6.7% y/y), following a 0.6% gain. The inventory-to-sales ratio held steady at 1.35. It peaked early in 2016 [...]

Initial claims for unemployment insurance eased to 218,000 during the week ended June 9 from an unrevised 222,000 during the prior week. Expectations in the Action Economics Forecast Survey looked for a modest increase to 224,000 [...]

Consumers were in a shopping mood last month. Total retail sales increased 0.8% (5.9% y/y) during May following a 0.4% April gain, revised from 0.3%. It was the strongest monthly increase since November. A 0.4% rise had been expected [...]